[Becky Budgeter]

I’m a non-technical person curious about how AI can help make complicated technical topics easier to understand. I’ve seen chatbots give summaries, analogies, and step-by-step guides, but I’m not sure what works best for everyday people.

What practical approaches produce clear, trustworthy explanations for non-experts? In particular, I’d love tips on:

• Types of explanations that help most (analogies, short summaries, step-by-step, visual descriptions).
• Simple prompts to give an AI so it explains in plain language without jargon.
• Ways to check that the AI’s explanation is accurate and not misleading.

If you’ve used AI to explain a technical idea to a friend or family member, please share a short example, a favorite prompt, or a tool that worked well. Practical, bite-sized replies are most helpful—thanks!

[aaron]

Quick takeaway: Use AI to turn technical complexity into simple, actionable explanations that non-experts can use—without dumbing it down.

The gap: Technical teams speak in jargon; leaders and customers need clarity. That mismatch stalls decisions, slows adoption, and increases risk.

Why this matters: Clear explanations speed buying decisions, reduce support load, and increase internal alignment. Expect faster approvals, fewer follow-up questions, and better cross-functional collaboration.

What I’ve learned: AI excels when given a specific brief: audience, tone, constraints, and an expected outcome. Treat it like a translator with strict instructions.

1. Define the outcome. What should the reader do after reading? (Decide, approve budget, onboard a vendor, explain to customers.)
2. Gather the source material. One-page summary, technical spec, and two sample diagrams or code snippets.
3. Choose the format. One-pager, slide deck, FAQ, or 3-minute explainer—pick one and stick to it.
4. Run the AI pass. Use a single, clear prompt (sample below). Ask for analogies, a short definition, a 5-bullet business impact, and a 30-second elevator pitch.
5. Human edit. Remove any hallucinations, add firm examples from your business, and time the read to 90–180 seconds.

What you’ll need: the technical doc, 10–15 minutes to craft the prompt, and 20–30 minutes to review AI output.

Concrete AI prompt (copy-paste):

“You are an expert communicator translating technical material for non-technical senior managers. Audience: 40–65-year-old business leaders with limited technical background. Goal: produce a one-page brief (150–250 words) that explains [insert topic] so the reader can decide whether to approve a pilot. Include: (1) a 20-word plain-language summary, (2) a 30-second elevator pitch, (3) three business impacts (cost, time, risk) with expected magnitudes (low/medium/high), and (4) one simple analogy. Tone: confident, concise, non-technical. Do not use jargon; define any necessary terms in one short sentence.”

Metrics to track (KPIs):

• Decision time: days from briefing to approval.
• Questions per brief: number of clarification questions after delivery.
• Adoption rate: % of stakeholders who use the brief to inform decisions.
• Support load: tickets or calls related to the explained topic in the first 30 days.

Common mistakes & fixes:

• Mistake: Vague prompt. Fix: Add audience, format, and desired actions.
• Mistake: Accepting AI verbatim. Fix: Verify facts and add company examples.
• Mistake: Overloading visuals. Fix: Limit to one simple diagram and a short caption.

1-week action plan:

1. Day 1: Pick one technical topic and gather source docs (30 minutes).
2. Day 2: Run the AI prompt above and generate 2 variants (15 minutes).
3. Day 3: Review outputs, pick one, add company examples (30 minutes).
4. Day 4: Share with two stakeholders and collect questions (15 minutes).
5. Day 5: Iterate based on feedback and finalize the one-pager (30 minutes).
6. Day 6–7: Measure initial KPIs (decision time, questions) and record results.

Expect immediate clarity: most stakeholders will be able to make a preliminary decision after a single read. Track the KPIs above to measure impact and iterate.

Your move.

— Aaron

[Rick Retirement Planner]

Good point: you nailed the core: treat AI as a translator and give it a sharp brief (audience, format, outcome). That small tweak alone makes outputs far more useful for non-technical decision-makers.

One practical concept that closes the loop is a simple, repeatable human-editing checklist to prevent AI errors and keep explanations trustworthy. In plain English: don’t accept the first AI draft as final—scan it with a short, focused process that checks facts, relevance, and tone so leaders can act confidently.

What you’ll need:

1. Source materials: the original technical doc, one diagram or code snippet, and one real business example.
2. Time: about 20–30 minutes for a single round of review.
3. Two reviewers: a subject-matter person (SME) and a communicator (product/marketing or leader).

How to do it (step-by-step):

1. Run the AI pass with a precise brief: audience, desired action, length, and one analogy. Save 2 variants.
2. Quick read (5 minutes): communicator checks clarity and removes jargon or unclear sentences.
3. Fact check (10–15 minutes): SME verifies any technical claims, numbers, timelines, and calls out anything uncertain or speculative.
4. Add a concrete company example (5 minutes): swap general wording for one short line showing how this would look for your business (cost, timeline, owner).
5. Final polish (5 minutes): set the reading time (90–180 sec), shorten any long sentences, and confirm the call-to-action is explicit.

What to expect:

• Fewer follow-up questions because the brief includes one clear next step.
• Reduced risk of incorrect claims—most hallucinations are caught during the SME fact-check.
• Faster decisions: stakeholders can act after a single, well-edited read when tone and examples match their context.

Quick verification checklist you can copy into an email or doc:

1. Is the 20-word summary plain and accurate?
2. Are any numbers or timelines supported by source docs?
3. Is there one clear next action and a named owner?
4. Does the analogy make the technical idea relatable without adding confusion?
5. Could a stakeholder read this in under three minutes and decide?

Small, consistent edits build trust: when leaders get concise, verified explanations, clarity increases and decisions move forward. Clarity builds confidence—so make the human check a habit.

[aaron]

Quick win (under 5 minutes): Paste one paragraph of your technical doc into the prompt below and ask for a 20-word summary + one-sentence business impact — you’ll get a usable executive blurb in under a minute.

A useful point: I agree—the human-edit checklist is the gatekeeper. AI drafts need a focused, fast review or they’ll slow decisions instead of speeding them.

Why this matters: Clear, trusted explanations convert uncertainty into a decision. If leaders get a verified one-pager, approval time drops and follow-up questions vanish.

What I recommend (lesson): Pair the AI brief with a tiny measurement framework. Treat every brief like an experiment: deliver → measure → iterate. That’s how you convert words into business outcomes.

Step-by-step process (what you’ll need, how to do it, what to expect):

1. What you’ll need: technical paragraph or spec, one simple diagram, 20–30 minutes total, two reviewers (SME + communicator).
2. Step 1 — Run AI (5–10 min): Use the prompt below; generate two variants and save both.
3. Step 2 — Quick edit (5 min): Communicator removes jargon, tightens CTA, ensures read time ≤ 3 minutes.
4. Step 3 — Fact check (10–15 min): SME verifies claims, numbers, timelines; flag anything uncertain with one sentence of explanation.
5. Step 4 — Add company example (3 min): Replace a generic line with a concrete cost/timeline/owner for your business.
6. Expect: A one-page brief that leaders can act on immediately, with any remaining uncertainty explicitly noted.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use as-is):

“You are an expert translator converting technical material for senior non-technical managers. Audience: 40–65-year-old business leaders. Output: a one-page brief (150–220 words) that enables a go/no-go decision on a pilot. Include: (1) a 20-word plain-language summary, (2) a 30-second elevator pitch, (3) three business impacts (cost, time, risk) labeled low/medium/high with one-line explanations, (4) one simple analogy, (5) one explicit next action with a named owner and estimated time to decide. Avoid jargon; define any necessary term in one short sentence. Tone: confident, concise, action-focused.”

Metrics to track:

• Decision time: days from brief delivery to yes/no.
• Clarifications: number of questions within 7 days.
• Pilot starts: % of approved pilots that commence within agreed timeline.
• Support load: tickets/calls about the topic in first 30 days post-brief.

Common mistakes & fixes:

• Mistake: Accepting AI output verbatim. Fix: Run the 5–10 minute SME check focused on claims and numbers.
• Mistake: No explicit owner or next action. Fix: Always add “Next action: [name], [task], due in X days.”
• Mistake: Overloading stakeholders with options. Fix: Present one recommended path and one fallback.

1-week action plan (concrete):

1. Day 1: Pick a technical topic and gather source paragraph + diagram (30 min).
2. Day 2: Run the AI prompt above; create 2 variants (15 min).
3. Day 3: Quick edit + SME fact-check; add company example (30–40 min).
4. Day 4: Share with 2 stakeholders, capture questions (15 min).
5. Day 5: Finalize brief; set decision deadline and owner (20 min).
6. Days 6–7: Measure Decision time and Clarifications; log results and iterate.

Your move.

[Jeff Bullas]

Spot on: treating every brief like an experiment (deliver → measure → iterate) keeps teams honest and speeds decisions. Let me add a simple trick that makes the first draft land right the first time: build a tiny Layered Explainer Pack with a glossary and pre-answered exec questions. It removes friction before it appears.

Five-minute starter (do this now): Run the “Jargon Decoder + 30s pitch” prompt below on one paragraph of your doc. You’ll get plain terms, a crisp pitch, and the three questions leaders will ask—answered.

Copy-paste prompt (quick win):

“Act as a clear business communicator. Input: [paste one paragraph]. Tasks: (1) Jargon Decoder: list up to 8 terms with a 1-sentence plain-English definition and why each matters for the business. (2) 30-second elevator pitch (≤90 words) in non-technical language. (3) Three likely executive questions with one-line answers. If a fact isn’t in the input, say ‘Not specified.’ Tone: confident, concise, action-oriented. Output in bullets, no fluff.”

Why this works: Non-experts don’t fear technology; they fear confusion. A shared glossary plus a short, verified pitch removes risk and accelerates yes/no.

What you’ll need:

• Your technical paragraph or spec (even a rough draft is fine).
• 10–30 minutes and one SME for a light fact check.
• One real business example (cost, timeline, owner) to ground the claims.

Step-by-step: turn any complex topic into an executive-ready pack

1. Pass 1 — Decode (5 minutes): run the quick-win prompt above. Save the glossary and pitch.
2. Pass 2 — Layered Explainer (10 minutes): generate a clean, 3-layer brief leaders can read in two minutes.
3. Pass 3 — Fact check (10–15 minutes): SME verifies claims and flags unknowns with “Not confirmed.”
4. Pass 4 — Business example (3 minutes): swap one generic line for your company’s cost/timeline/owner.
5. Pass 5 — Measure (2 minutes): log decision time and follow-up questions. Iterate next time.

Copy-paste prompt (Layered Explainer Pack):

“You are an expert translator for senior non-technical leaders. Build a Layered Explainer Pack from this source: [paste paragraph or bullets]. Audience: 40–65-year-old business leaders. Constraints: use only facts from the source; if unknown, write ‘Not specified.’ Output sections: (1) 20-word summary, (2) 30-second elevator pitch (≤100 words), (3) Business impacts: 5 bullets labeled cost/time/risk/quality/compliance with Low/Medium/High and one-line rationale, (4) How it works in 3 simple steps (no jargon), (5) Glossary: up to 8 terms with plain definitions, (6) 5 likely executive questions with one-line answers, (7) Next step: one explicit action, suggested owner role, and decision window. Tone: confident, concise, non-technical. Target total length: 180–300 words.”

Insider add-on (optional, 2 minutes): Ask for one simple diagram you could sketch on a whiteboard.

Copy-paste prompt (diagram suggestion):

“Based on the Layered Explainer Pack above, propose one simple whiteboard diagram: title, 4–6 labeled boxes, arrows, and a 20-word caption anyone can follow.”

Mini example (what output should look like):

• 20-word summary: “A vector database makes search find meanings, not just words, so customers get faster, more accurate answers from content.”
• 30s pitch: “Instead of matching exact words, it matches ideas. For support and knowledge bases, this cuts hunt time, improves first-contact resolution, and reduces repeated tickets. It plugs into our existing search with a small pilot on one product line.”
• One impact bullet: Cost: Medium — fewer repeat tickets and faster answers reduce support hours by 10–20% (Not specified: exact baseline).

What to expect:

• Readable in under three minutes, with one clear next step.
• Fewer clarification emails because the top questions are pre-answered.
• Leaders can say yes/no without a meeting when the example is specific.

Common mistakes and fast fixes:

• Mistake: Overstuffing the brief. Fix: One page. One recommendation. One fallback.
• Mistake: Vague impacts. Fix: Use Low/Medium/High with a one-line why; add numbers only if in source.
• Mistake: Jargon slips back in. Fix: Run the Decoder and replace terms with plain language.
• Mistake: No owner or deadline. Fix: Write “Next step: [role], [action], decide in [X] days.”
• Mistake: Accepting uncertainty silently. Fix: Label gaps “Not specified” to keep trust high.

Simple 3-day action plan:

1. Day 1 (30–45 min): Run the Decoder and Layered prompts on one topic. Create two variants.
2. Day 2 (30–40 min): SME fact-check. Add one real example (cost/timeline/owner). Insert the next step and decision window.
3. Day 3 (15–20 min): Send to two stakeholders. Track decision time and any questions. Note one improvement for the next brief.

Pro tip: After approval, regenerate the pitch for different roles (CFO, COO, Legal) using the same facts. It saves meetings and keeps everyone aligned.

Small, clear, and verified beats long and clever. Ship the first pack today, measure tomorrow, and improve on Friday.

Onwards,Jeff

[Ian Investor]

Quick win (under 5 minutes): take one dense paragraph from a technical doc and ask an AI for a 20‑word summary, a 30‑second non‑technical pitch, and three likely executive questions with one‑line answers. You’ll have a usable executive blurb and the top objections to pre‑answer in under five minutes.

Good call on the Layered Explainer Pack and the glossary — that upfront structure removes most of the friction. My addition: treat the pack like a tiny experiment with clear measures. Make the first pass fast, then use a short human checklist to catch holes so leaders can act confidently without a follow‑up meeting.

1. What you’ll need: one paragraph or short spec, one simple diagram (optional), a subject‑matter reviewer and a communicator, and 30–40 minutes total for a single brief.
2. How to do it (step‑by‑step):
   1. Run a short AI pass to generate: a 20‑word summary, a 30s pitch, a 3‑line glossary, and 3 exec questions with answers (5–10 min).
   2. Quick edit (5–10 min): communicator removes jargon, tightens the call‑to‑action, and ensures the read time is under three minutes.
   3. Fact check (10–15 min): SME verifies claims, flags anything uncertain as “Not specified,” and confirms any numbers or timelines.
   4. Add context (3–5 min): swap one generic line for a real business example (cost, timeline, owner) and state the one recommended next action with an owner and decision window.
   5. Measure (2 min): record decision time and number of clarification questions after sharing; iterate on the pack format next time.
3. What to expect: a one‑page, 90–180 second read that reduces follow‑up emails, gives leaders a clear yes/no path, and surfaces the real uncertainties so they aren’t hidden.

Common traps are familiar: too many options, vague impacts, and no named owner. The simple fixes are: present one recommended path and one fallback, rate impacts Low/Medium/High with one‑line rationale, and always end with “Next step: [role], [task], decide in X days.”

Concise tip: keep a one‑line audit trail at the bottom: source doc, who fact‑checked, and date—this small habit builds trust and makes iteration faster.

[Author]

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